Tree Swallow

A quiet pause with a Tree Swallow in the Institute Woods.

https://islandinthenet.com/tree-swallow-2/

Looking Up for Wood Ducks

A spring morning search for Wood Ducks in Princeton’s Institute Woods turns into a lesson about looking up—and knowing your lens limits.

https://islandinthenet.com/wood-duck/

I wrapped up my early morning adventure in Charles H. Rogers Wildlife Refuge. It was almost 10 AM so it was no longer early. I started walking back toward the trail entrance that would take me back to IInstitute Woods but didn’t get very excited when I saw the Eastern Cottontail hopping in the grass at the side of the gravel road. I love the way the light flowed across the body. He must have noticed me because he stood still and his ears perked up. I wanted several seconds for the rabbit to calm down. He went back to eating.

https://islandinthenet.com/eastern-cottontail-sylvilagus-floridanus/

#CharlesHRogersWildlifeRefuge #EasternCottontail #InstituteWoods #Rabbit #SylvilagusFloridanus #WorldSeriesOfBirding

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Spotted a new bird, later identified as a Northern Mockingbird, on the grassy field near Institute Woods after a productive photography outing.

https://islandinthenet.com/northern-mockingbird-mimus-polyglottos/

#BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #Birding #Birds #InstituteWoods #MimusPolyglottos #Nature #NorthernMockingbird #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)

I discovered a Red-eyed Vireo during an early morning visit to Institute Woods, where sunlight finally broke through the overcast sky.

https://islandinthenet.com/red-eyed-vireo-vireo-olivaceus-2/

#BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #Birding #Birds #InstituteWoods #Nature #RedEyedVireo #VireoOlivaceus #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

After photographing a Northern Mockingbird, I spotted a Common Yellowthroat in the hedgerow near Institute Woods.

https://islandinthenet.com/common-yellowthroat-geothlypis-trichas/

#BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #Birding #Birds #CommonYellowthroat #GeothlypisTrichas #InstituteWoods #Nature #Warbler #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography

The World Series of Birding on 19 of May was a magical day for birth photography. The annual competitive birding event challenges birders to identify species. By the end of the day, I had identified 11 different bird species. That’s not a lot for many birders, but it was a lot for me. After weeks of challenging weather, I finally had a day that provided ample opportunity for bird photography. It was a sunny day and it seemed like all the wildlife had decided to show up.

On the trail to Charles H. Rogers Wildlife Refuge, Merlin ID heard an Eastern Wood-Pewee in the trees. I waited - waiting is something I do a lot when I go out for bird photography - and after several minutes, I saw the Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) in the branches. This individual was cooperative, posing on the branch just where I wanted it.

After arriving at the Charles H. Rogers Wildlife Refuge I realised that I was not the only one out in Charles H. Rogers Wildlife Refuge. There were groups of birders and bird photographers walking about. It felt good to be surrounded by people who shared my interest in bird photography. For about four hours I walked around Institute Woods toward Charles H. Rogers Wildlife Refuge.

I walked around slowly from one area to the next. I found male and female House Finches in a tree, a female Purple Martin foraging for sticks for her nest, a Mourning Dove sunning on a branch, and an American bullfrog entertaining a small group of birders.

https://islandinthenet.com/eastern-wood-pewee-contopus-virens-2/

#BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #Birding #CharlesHRogersWildlifeRefuge #ContopusVirens #EasternWoodPewee #InstituteWoods #WildlifePhotography #WorldSeriesOfBirding

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)

Their quick movements and high-pitched calls make Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) challenging yet rewarding subjects for photography.

https://islandinthenet.com/blue-gray-gnatcatcher-polioptila-caerulea/

#BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #Birding #Birds #BlueGrayGnatcatcher #CharlesHRogersWildlifeRefuge #InstituteWoods #Nature #PolioptilaCaerulea #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography